Slow Down and Enjoy

When I work, I like to work fast. I like to get shit done. And if I make a mistake or do something that slows me down, I get frustrated.

Today was a good reminder to slow down and enjoy the process. It's never (and I really mean never) about the destination (or the final product).

I spent the majority of today in the kitchen cooking and baking with Sullivan. We had the slow cooker going, the pressure cooking doing it's thing and delicious cookies in the oven. I even seasoned the cast iron pan!

For the most part it was fun. But then I got to the baking part... Where I have less experience.

The goal: to make vegan and gluten free gingerbread men.

So I started searching through recipes and found one. So I thought... I started putting all the ingredients together and then realized the recipe was for soft gingerbread cookies... Not good for rolling out and cutting into christmas trees, stars and little men.

My initial reaction was frustration as "that was a waste of time" was the first thought that came to mind. "Now I have to start over again!"

I quickly snapped out of it, finished the recipe and got the cookies in the oven (which ended up being delicious by the way.)

Back to google and the search for a recipe which included only incredients that we already had. Once I found the one, I started putting it together and things were going well. Sullivan and I got the dough looking good and we rolled it out. We started cutting the shapes transferring them to the baking sheet.

Or at least I tried to transition them to the baking sheet... 2 out of the first 5 made it... My frustration started to come out again...

"Daddy, don't get frustrated." Which only made me more frustrated.

"Let me try. I'll be able to do it. I won't get frustrated and I don't like when you get frustrated."

That last part is what changed my state. Here I am getting frustrated about breaking the leg off a silly gingerbread man and I'm missing the beautiful moment right in front of me. Before I know it, Sullivan will have no interest to be in the kitchen with me and I'm trying to rush through it. I'm just trying to check another thing off my list. Silly daddy...

Slow down and enjoy the moment that's in front of you. It will be gone before you know it.

P.S. Sullivan was able to do much better than me and we rocked those gingerbread men! Even mommy was quite impressed ;)